How to buy a tablet this holiday season

Komando

What do American consumers want more than money or peace and happiness this Christmas? If you answered a tablet, you're correct -- at least according to a Consumer Electronics Association poll.

The same poll found that 14 percent of American consumers owned a tablet a year ago. It's more than double that now. And tablets are even more coveted than smartphones and laptops.

So why is tablet fever so high? For the first time since the iPad debuted in 2010, consumers have some really good choices among models made by competitors Amazon and Google.

It's a good time to review those choices and help you pick the tablet that's best for you -- or that special someone on your gift list.

Android tablets

Android tablets -- which run Google's Android operating system -- are becoming a big threat to the iPad. Though Google has made Android available to all tablet makers, your best bets for now are Google's flagship tablets -- the Nexus 7 ($199) and Nexus 10 ($399).

These gadgets run the latest version of the Android operating system, 4.2 or Jelly Bean, and are the first to receive updates. They also can go neck and neck with the power, features and usability you'll find on iPads of similar size -- but at a lower cost. In some ways, the Nexus tablets actually are better.

Android once was harder to use because it lacked a centralized content ecosystem like Apple has. Thanks to Google Play, however, all the content you need is at your fingertips. In addition to 700,000 apps, Play includes movies, music and e-books.

A Nexus tablet is a good buy if you want a powerful tablet that isn't an iPad.

Now, you will come across sub-$100 Android tablets when shopping. I don't recommend them. They're slow with low-resolution screens and don't always have the latest software.

Amazon tablets

Amazon's Android-based Kindle Fire tablet recently got a major upgrade, along with a few siblings, making it a more competitive option.

Amazon revised the original Kindle Fire with more RAM, faster Wi-Fi and a front-facing camera but dropped the price to $159, from $199. In addition, Amazon released the 7-inch and 8.9-inch Fire HDs.

The $199 7-inch Fire HD has a 1280-by-800-pixel screen, 16 gigabytes of storage, dual Wi-Fi and stereo speakers for movies. The 8.9-inch version starts at $299 and has the same specs but upgrades the screen to 1920 by 1200 pixels.

The main attraction of the Kindle Fire is it ties in closely to the extensive Amazon ecosystem of music, movies and e-books. Amazon even has a dedicated Kindle app store.

You can pay more for additional storage and an AT&T 4G LTE cellular connection. For example, the 32GB, 7-inch Kindle HD with 4G cellular is $499. A similarly equipped iPad Mini is $559.

If you want a tablet that's simple to use but want to save some money or just buy something besides an Apple product, a Kindle Fire is a good choice.

Apple iPad

Despite the inroads Google and Amazon are making, the iPad still is the most recognized tablet around. It's the one you'll see most on Christmas wish lists.

The fourth-generation iPad with Retina display benefits from a new high-powered processor and graphics system that allow gamers and content creators more flexibility on the go.

Gamers can download apps that rival home game consoles. Content creators have access to video and photo editing and drawing apps that nearly match computer-based programs. Of course, it's also great for watching movies, email and Web surfing.

To save a little money, don't forget that Apple still sells the 16GB Wi-Fi version of the iPad 2 for $399. You also can opt for the new 7.9-inch iPad Mini for $329. It has the insides of the iPad 2 and its non-Retina screen but is much thinner and lighter.

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Kim Komando hosts a radio talk show about consumer electronics, computers and the Internet. Visit komando.com to find the station nearest you, get her podcast or watch her show. Send comments by email to techcomments@usatoday.com.